Judith L. Bergfors-Colby 1943 ~ 2012

Judith L. Bergfors-Colby passed away on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 after a courageous three and a half year battle with cancer. She will be greatly missed by the many family and friends whose lives were made richer for knowing her.

Judy was born on July 19th, 1943 in Clare, Michigan, and spent the first few decades of her life in that region.

She then moved to California in the early 1970s with her first husband, Ron Bergfors, and their young children. She spent three decades in California before moving to La Conner, Washington with her second husband, Eric Colby.

Judy was truly a Renaissance woman. She was passionate about reading, writing, photography and gardening. Judy was an exceptionally gifted seamstress and built several successful alterations businesses, first in California (Rancho Santa Fe, then Solvang, then later still in the Monterey area), and finally in the La Conner/Anacortes area of Washington State. She was locally renowned for her work with brides, and she very much enjoyed helping them achieve perfection for their gowns.

While maintaining her own successful business and being active in her community were very important to Judy, her true joy and the main focus of her life was always her family and many friends. She is survived by her brother John (Maxine) and extended family in Michigan, and also by her much loved children, son Mike (Snow), daughter Audrey (Ben), and by her dear grandchildren, Katie and Adam. She taught them each to share in her passions for sewing, photography, writing and gardening, and they will carry her many lessons with them for their whole lives.

Judy faced her illness as she had always faced her life, with courage and optimism and tremendous strength of spirit. She was an inspiration to all who knew her, whether they had only met her once or had been fortunate enough to have shared many years of joyous companionship with her. She will be most deeply missed by her loving family, and her large group of exceptionally caring and devoted friends.

A memorial to celebrate Judy’s life was held on January 7th at the Shelter Bay Clubhouse.

In Judy’s honor, donations may be made either to the Skagit Valley Hospital Regional Cancer Care Center in Mount Vernon or the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.